v smile or other console for 3 year old?

Janepig

*Louise* wrote: »

I bought one for DS2 (3) last year, but it has only been used once, he never took to it cos he won't sit still for 5 minutes to pla it. Bit of a waste of money for us tbh.

This year I am going to buy him a game called 'I did it mum' for the DS which is designed for young children, and it's something we can do together. Mind you, he still might not sit, but it's worth a try.

I have also bought him the Leappad word pen, so he can read stories even on his own.

I bought that for DS the other day (the "I did it mum 2" game) and he absolutely loves it. He's 3 next month and he's not a child who likes to sit still :rolleyes: but he has really got into it. It's lots of mini-games, and there are one or two that are perhaps beyond him at the moment (spot the difference and dot to dot), but I'm amazed how quickly he got the hang of the stylus, and for instance there's one game (his favourite) where you've got a car and you have to pick wheels and other bits to go onto it, and you have to tap "next" to go to each page, which he sussed out straight away. When he gets "answers" right he throws his arms up and cheers - he's had loads of fun with it.

I'm not a huge fan of letting little ones play on them for ages though and I don't let him sit there for hours with it, but I have been surprised how much of a hit it's been. I wonder how long it will be before he objects to playing it on my pink DS though - although he's a little fella who is very much in touch with his feminine side so we should be okay for afew years.

Jxx

maemaesmummy

have a wii which dd nearly 4 is loving... she has the Diego game and its educational too. I have also pre ordered her the Dora and Peppa wii game.

robin_banks

Can I ask why a 2 year old needs to play video games or be able to control a mouse?.

liney

robin_banks wrote: »

Can I ask why a 2 year old needs to play video games or be able to control a mouse?.

The child is 3 not 2 and:

Because we are surrounded by technology, and when at preschool at 3 1/2 they will be introduced to a PC.

These aren't video games like arcade games, they are games which encourage counting, spelling, matching, pattern sequences, etc etc, which are beneficial to a child of that age. Obviously that should count towards the child's daily 'screen time'.

My son had one last Christmas at 3 1/2 and wasn't very interested, but began to use it when he was about 4. The Diego game is one of the easier ones, and doesn't involve spelling/maths. The art box is very good, although the pen can be abit difficult to maniulate at times, so he might be abit young yet.

I saw the V Smiles ot £29.99 in my local Entertainer, which was £10 cheaper than most other places if that helps.

Sharra

When my son was 2 1/2 we bought a small mouse for him to use as he too couldnt use the big one. We also found some games that were great for him, one of them did something whereever you clicked on screen (played nursery rhymes, something animated etc). He got the hang of the mouse v quickly and grew up loving computers, which is great now he's 14.

It may be worth checking out the educational games you can get for littlies on pcs.

domestic_goddess

robin_banks wrote: »

Can I ask why a 2 year old needs to play video games or be able to control a mouse?.

I think that the OP did say that her child was 3

My DS's nursery has a PC and you would be surprised at how well the kids can use it. My DD,aged 6, can turn my laptop, connect to the internet and get on to the C Beebies website. I strongly believe that she learns a lot from her time on the internet.....it helps with counting, hand eye co-ordination, reading, writing and many other things. I don't think that anyone would use these games for substitite for spending time with their children but they are very good for encouranging independent learning while having fun.

How else could I get my DD to spend half an hour sat quietly doing sums?:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

jellyhead

He seems to be the only one at nursery who can't use the nursery PC. He has to start school the minute he turns 4 and I don't want him to be the only one who doesn't know what to do in IT lessons. Plus, it's something he is showing an interest in, and I'd rather he had age-appropriate games.

He is 3, and at a recent parent-partnership meeting at nursery everyone was horrified when I said that I don't let my boy use the internet because I don't think a 3 year old needs IT skills. I prefer him to run and climb.

Having asked around (after a recent thread where I was told that it's abnormal for a family not to have internet access, and is an 'alternative lifestyle' on a par with not having a TV or phone) I've discovered that the families I know who don't have internet access all have playstation/wii/DS and the little ones all play on them. I don't want my boy to be the only one who doesn't have a clue about technology.

He won't be gazing at a screen for hours each day - it's for occasional use.

My older boy wasn't playing games at age 3 but times seem to have changed.

jellyhead

robin_banks wrote: »

Can I ask why a 2 year old needs to play video games or be able to control a mouse?.

They probably get tested on it the moment they start school :rolleyes: He has to take SATS at age 6, an age where half the kids in the class weren't even reading back in the days of the dinosaurs when I went to school.

Janepig

jellyhead wrote: »

They probably get tested on it the moment they start school :rolleyes: He has to take SATS at age 6, an age where half the kids in the class weren't even reading back in the days of the dinosaurs when I went to school.

You could always move to Wales - we don't do SATS any more.:D

Jxx

robin_banks

My point is that nurseries aren't schools, (the staff aren't teachers) and of no obvious educational benefit whatsoever , a child of 3 does not NEED to be able to control a PC, they'll have enough of that misery for years after that.